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Defence Force personnel receive awards for gallantry
1 October 2011
Today is a significant day for four NZ Defence Force personnel, who have been awarded Gallantry Awards for their courageous actions while deployed to Afghanistan.
Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones says the decorations which rank among the highest decorations presented to NZ service men and women, acknowledge the courageous acts shown by these soldiers.
Recipients
The New Zealand Gallantry Star
Corporal Albert Henry (Al-Bee) Moore was born in Kawerau in October 1983.
Corporal Moore enlisted into the New Zealand Army in June 2002 and completed his recruit training at The Army Depot, Waiouru in December 2002. He graduated into the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment as a Rifleman and was posted to 2nd/1st Battalion RNZIR, Burnham Military Camp. He deployed operationally on OP RATA from November 2004 to February 2005.
Corporal Moore was the commander of the rear vehicle of a New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team patrol when it was ambushed by insurgent forces near the town of Chartok in Bamyan Province Afghanistan on 3 August 2010.
The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
Lance Corporal Allister Donald Baker was born in Takaka in February 1987.
Lance Corporal Baker enlisted into the New Zealand Army in September 2005 and completed his recruit training at The Army Depot, Waiouru in November 2005. He graduated into the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment as a Rifleman, in the rank of Private, and was posted to 2nd/1st Battalion, RNZIR, Burnham Military Camp.
Lance Corporal Baker (then in the rank of Private) was the turret gunner in the lead vehicle of a New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team patrol when it was ambushed by insurgent forces near the town of Chartok in Bamyan Province Afghanistan on 3 August 2010. The insurgents set off an improvised explosive device, which immobilised his vehicle and then began firing at all four vehicles with small arms fire and shoulder launched rockets, in an engagement that was to continue for some 35 minutes.
Corporal Matthew John Ball was born in Auckland in May 1986.
Corporal Ball enlisted into the New Zealand Army in January 2004 and completed his recruit training at The Army Depot, Waiouru in April 2004. He graduated into the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals and was posted to 2 Signals Squadron, Linton Military Camp.
Corporal Ball (then in the rank of Lance Corporal) was the driver of the lead vehicle of a New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team patrol when it was ambushed by insurgent forces near the town of Chartok in Bamyan Province Afghanistan on 3 August 2010. The insurgents set off an improvised explosive device, which immobilised his vehicle and then began firing at all four vehicles with small arms fire and shoulder launched rockets, in an engagement that was to continue for some 35 minutes.
The New Zealand Gallantry Medal
Warrant Officer Class Two Denis Joachim Wanihi was born in Waverley in April 1969.
Warrant Officer Class Two Wanihi initially enlisted into the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army in June 1986 and served with 3rd Task Force in Christchurch. He transferred to the Regular Force in June 1987 and completed his recruit training at the Waiouru Training Depot in November 1987.
Warrant Officer Class Two Wanihi (then in acting rank) served in Afghanistan during 2010 in a supervisory role with a multi-national team dealing with and responding to incidents involving Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and Explosive Ordnance Devices (EOD) in Khowst and Patika provinces. He received, processed and shipped evidence for over 259 IED incidents that occurred in these provinces and participated in over 30 Focused Targeting Force operations, involving joint ventures with Special Operations Force units.
Further information
Army News: A Traumatic and Complex Situation (Issue 417)
About the New Zealand Gallantry Awards
2011 Special Honours List: Media Pack | PDF, 1.48MB
This page was last reviewed on 01 October 2011 and is current.
